Head-rest for car-seats



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J. B.'STRAUSS. HEADBEST FOR CARl SEATS. No. 594,103. Patented Nov. 23,1897.

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Patented Nov. 23, 189'7.

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J. B. S'TRAUSS. HEAD REST PoR GAR SEATS.

Patented Nov. 23, 1897.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4'.. J. B. ST-RAUSS.

HEAD REST FOR GAR SEATS.

No. 594,103. Patented Nov.. 23, 1897.

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UNITED v STATES PATENT EEICE.

.IOSEPI-I BAERMAN STRAUSS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR- OF ONE-HALF TOEDWIN BAERMAN TUTEUR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HEAD-REST FOR CAR-SEATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,103, dated November23, 1897.

Application filed March 6, 1897. Serial No. 626,265. (No model.)Patented in Ganada April 6, '1897,No. 55,529.

,To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, J osEPHv BAERMAN STRAUss, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Head-Restsfor Oar-Seats, patented in Canada April 6, 1897, No. 55,529,) ofwhichthe following is a full and complete specification, such as willenable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in railway-carseats by which they are made to serve as a couch or sofa by combiningwith one or both ends thereof a head rest or support which when not inuse occupies the spacewithin the frame of the seat at the end or endsthereof or between the side posts and the arm-rest, which are usuallyconnected with the end, a further ob-' ject being` to provide animproved seat of the kind mentioned by connection with the end or endsthereof of anadjustable head-rest composed either of one or two parts,one ofl which may be stationary,I if desired.

'My' invention is particularly applicable to car-seats of all kinds orclasses now in use and may be used, and preferably so, in connectionwith the seats of cars in which the aisle is arranged at the side of thecar and the seats lengthened out to form sofa-seats; but the inventionis applicable to and may be connected with the end of any possible seat,whether in a day-coach, sleeping or parlor car, or the like.

The invention is the same as that for which Letters Patent were grantedin Canada April 6, 1897, No. 55,529, and is fully disclosed in thefollowing specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part,in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the samenumerals of reference in each of the views, and in which- Figure 1 is anendvview of a common type of car-seat provided with one form of myimprovement, part of the construction being shown in section and theframe of the headrest only being shown; Fig. 2, a similar view showingthe seat and head-rest complete in full lines, the frame of thehead-rest being shown in dotted lines and being inclosed by a casingwhich constitutes the pillow or cushion of the head-rest; Fig. 3, afront View of a portion of the seat, showing the head-rest or the pillowor cushion thereofv in section and showing the head-rest projecting aswhen in use in full lines and the normal position thereof when not inuse in dotted lines; Fig.

4, a section on the line 4 et of Fig. 1; Fig. 5,

a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6, a 6o view similar to Fig.2, but showing the headrest turned on its supports and held in anupwardly and outwardly directed position and showing also a supplementalhead-rest which is pivoted below the same and which is lalso adapted tobe adjusted; Fig. 7, a front View thereof; and Fig. 8, a view similar toFig. 6, but showing another modification in which the supplementalhead-rest is secured to the frame of the main head-rest,- being ad- 7ojustable therewith or independently thereof, the end posts of the seatwith which the headrests are connected being also adjustable.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, reference being madeto Figs 1, 2, and 3, I have shown an ordinary car-seat or a portionthereof, said seat being composed of a supporting-frame 6, end posts 7,a seatcnshion 8, and a reversible seat-back 40, all these parts being ofthe usual form and con- 8o struction, and in the practice of myinvention I secure to the end posts 7 upright plates 9, said plates 9being each provided with an angular extension 1l), which is bolted orsecured to the end posts. I also provide a top plate 11, which isshorter than the space between the plates 9 and which is provided ateach end with upwardly-directed flanges or `heads 12, which are similarin form to the plates 9, and the plates 9 and the anges or 9o heads 12of the plate 11 are connected by bolts 16, which are enlarged at thecenter, as shown at 17, and mounted between the plates 9 and the an gesor heads 12 are disks 18, said disks 18 being separated by the enlargedcen- 95 trai portion 17 of the bolts 16, and it will be understood-thatthe disks 18 are held rigidly in position by the bolts 16 and that theflanges or heads 12 and the plate 11 are also similarly held rigidly inposition.

A. Ico Mounted between the flanges or heads 12 lof the plate 11 is anarm 13, which is provided at each end with a countersunk tubular housing14, which is oppositely screwthreaded at each end andin which is mounteda screw-threaded shaft 15. Said arm 13 constitutes the arm-rest of myimproved seat and is preferably upholstered and cylindrical in form,though it may be of any desired shape in cross-section.

Mounted on the disks 18 at each end is a cylindrical head 19, which isprovided With an enlarged central circular chamber 20 and with circularopenings in the sides for the disks 18, which serve thus as trunnions onwhich said cylindrical heads 19 bear and on which they are free to turn,and mounted in the enlarged central chamber 2O of each of said circularheads isa locking-disk 21, which is best shown in Fig. 5 and which isfree to move longitudinally only on the enlarged portions 17 of thebolts 1G, which act as guides therefor, and said disk is also providedat suitable intervals with teeth 22, adapted to engage withcorresponding notches or recesses 23, formed in the cylindrical head orin the walls of the central chamber 20.

The shafts 15 at each end project through the adjacent iiange or head 12and through the disk 18 adjacent thereto and are rigidly attached to thelocking-disks 21, and said shafts may be forced simultaneously outwardor simultaneously inward by turning the arm,

13, which is free to revolve, and in this operation the locking-disks 21will also be forced simultaneously ou tward or simultaneously inward,according to the direction in which the arm 13 is turned, and when saidlocking-disks are at their outermost position or adjacent to the innerdisk 18, as shown in Fig. 1, the teeth thereon will not engage with thecorresponding notches or recesses in the heads 19, and said heads aretherefore free to turn on the disks 18; but when said locking-disks arein their innermost position said teeth thereon will engage with thenotches or recesses in the heads 19 and said heads cannot be turned onthe disk 18.

The cylindrical heads 19 are provided at their lower sides withdownWardly-directed extensions 25, which are brought together at eachside to form an arm 26, and by means of this construction an open space27 is formed between the extensions 25.

' The arms 2G are provided on their inner sides with inwardly-directedtianges 28, and said arms are connected at their lower ends by anupwardly-curved rod 29, on which is mounted a spiral spring 30, andpassing transversely beneath the plate 11 is a tube 31, one end of whichpasses through one of the extensions 25 of one head 19 and is closed andprovided with a nut 32 by which it is held in place, and the ot-her endpasses through both of the extensions 25 of the other head 19 and isalso held in place bya nut, but is open and provided With a cap 33 andan ai r-valve 34 of any preferred construction, and adjacent to thelast-named end of the tube 31 is a downwardly-directed nozzle 35, thefunction of Which will be hereinafter described.

The arm 13 is provided centrally thereof with an annular groove 36 andwith a suit-- able socket adapted to receive the bolt of the lock 37,which is supported by the plate 11. The relative position of the lock 37and the socket in said arm is such as will prevent the rotation of saidarm when the head-rest 7 is locked in any position, thus preventing theunlocking and the miscellaneous use of and tampering with the same.

The plate 11 is provided centrally of the bottom thereof with aninwardly and down- Wardly directed arm 38, to which is pivoted the sidearm 39 of the back 40 of the seat.

The lock 37 is intended simply, as above stated, to lock the arm 13 tothe plate 11 and may be of any desired form or construction, and istherefore not shown and described in detail. It will also be understoodthat the lock 37 is operated by a key in the usual manner, and the back40 of the seat and the side arms 39 are of the usual construction, andsaid back is adapted to be turned on its pivotal connection at 38 in theusual manner, and the end posts 7 are provided With the usuallu gs orprojections 41 on Which the arms 39 rest.

The body portion of the head-rest consists, preferably, of a rubber bag42, reference being made to Figs. 3 and 4, and said bag is providedWithpan outer covering 43 of leather or any preferred material. Therubber bag 42 is substantially of the form of the frame of thehead-rest, and the position thereof is shown in Fig. 2 by the dottedline 44, and said rubber bag is secured to the iianges 28 of the arms 26of the frame of the head-rest and to the tube l31 and the bottom rod 29by threads or cords or in any desired manner, and the tube 31 isprovided with annular grooves 45 for this purpose. The leather, canvas,or other casing 43 of the rubber bag incloses said bag and also theentire depending portion of the frame of the head-rest, and the positionthereof when secured in place is indicated'by the full line 46 in Fig.2, and when the casing or covering of the rubber bag is thus secured inplace the downwardlydirected extensions 25 of the cylindrical heads 19are preferably left uncovered, as is clearly shown in said figure. Thetubular nozzle 35, which is connected With the pipe 31,passes into therubber bag 42, which constitutes mainly the pillow or cushion of thehead-rest, as shown in Fig. 3, and in vpractice said pillow or cushionis inflated by removing the cap 33 from said pipe and applying theretoan airpu mp of any desired form or construction.

The inner bag or portion 42 of the pillow or cushion `may be made ofrubber, rubber and canvas, or any preferred material suitable to form anair-tight Wall for said bag, and the saine may be connected With theframe of the head-rest in any desired manner, as may also the casing 43thereof; but said IDO IIO

rubber bag is not absolutely essential to my invention, and in placethereof I may substitute springs, hair filling, or any suitablematerial, or I may upholster the head-rest to harmonizey with the inishof the seat and provide an auxiliary and renewable cover withattachments therefore, or I may make the whole pillow or body portion ofthe head-rest,

detachable, and the details of this construction may be varied as may bedesired.

The normal position of the head-rest is that shown in dotted lines inFig. 3, and whenever it is desired to use the same the arm 13 isuulocked from the plate 11 and turned, preferably from right to left,causing the lockingdisks 21, hereinbefore described, to move outwardly,by which operation their teeth are disengaged from the notches of thecylindrical heads 19, thus leaving the head-rest free to be turned, asshown by the dotted line 47 and in the direction of the arrow 48, and itwill be understood that the head-restmay be held either in the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 3 or at any desired angle with reference tothe cushion 8 of the seat or to the end of the sea-t by turning the arm13 in the reverse direction or from the left to right, thus forcing thelocking-disks 2l inwardly, so that their teeth will rengage with thenotches of the cylindrical heads 19 and hold said heads rigid.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 I provide the plates 9, whichare secured to the end posts of the seat-frame, with extensions 50, andpivoted therein is a supplemental head-rest consisting of a frame 51,which is shown in dotted lines in said figures, and this frame iscovered, as shown at 52, with any suitable material-such as leather,canvas, or any other preferred material-and said covering is filled withany desired material, so as to form a p illow or cushion, and the upperrod of the frame 51 projects through the plates 50 at each end, and onone or both of said ends is mounted a ratchet-pinion 53, and securedbelow said pinion is a pawl 54, which is operated by a spring 55. In thenormal position of this supplemental head-rest it is suspended betweenthe end posts 7 of the seat, and whenever desired the lower end thereofmay be swung inwardly, as indicated in Fig. 7, and said supplementalhead-rest may be held at any inclination by means of the ratchet-pinion53 and the spring-operated pawl 54E.

In Fig. 8 I have shown another modification, in which the plates 9 areprojected downwardly and the supplemental head-rest,which consists ofthe frame 51 and the covering or cushion 52, is pivoted between thelower ends thereof, the upper rod of the frame 5l being projected ateach end, as shown at 60, and mounted on one or both of the ends of saidrod is a ratchet-wheel 61, which is provided with a spring-operated pawl62, which is pivotally connected with the plate 9, and by means of thisconstruction the said supplevthe plates 9, to which are secured theshafts 63, and in this form of construction the end posts 7 of the seatare also adjustable, being i pivotally supported at the lower endsthereof between the standards 66by means of a shaft 67, on one end ofwhich is mounted a ratchet-wheel 68, which is provided with a pawl 69.This'construction admits, as hereinbefore stated, of the simultaneousadjustment of the main and supplemental headrests and also of theseparate adjustments of each of the head-rests and of the adjustment ofthe end posts 7 of the seat, and it will be understood that both ends ofthe head-rests and both of the end posts 7 are in practice similarlyconstructed, only one of each, however, being shown in Fig. 8. The useof this supplemental head-rest does not in any way interfere with theconstruction and operation of that hereinbefore described, and theobject thereof is to provide a more extended head rest or support whichmay also serve l to support the entire body in an inclinedv position andin practice when it is desiredto use both of the head-rests for thepurposes above specified the main head-rest is v adjusted, ashereinbefore described, to the required position, in which it willproject outwardly and upwardly, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, and thesupplemental head-rest is then adj usted to correspond therewith.

It will be understood lthat where the side arms of the seat-back areattached to the seat-frame instead of the arm-rest the body portion ofthe head-rest or head-rests may be continued up to inclose the arm orarms 13, said arm or arms, supporting-plates, and attached pieces beingmodified to suit. These constructions, however, are obviously of minorimportance and are therefore not shown and described.

When not in use, both of the head-rests in the construction showninAFigs. 6, 7, and 8 will be suspended between the end posts 7 of theseat and, if desired, the supplemental head-rest may be permanently xedin the desired position in which it\is intended for use, and saidsupplemental head-rest may be made detachable, if desired, and may beremoved when not required.

The posts 7 are not made movable or adjustable except in those forms ofseats in which the side arms39 are attached to the seat-frame 6 insteadof to the cross-arm, and

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when the side arms are so attachedthe posts 7 are not connected with theback 40 of the seat and can therefore be swung outward without trouble.

It will thus be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention bymeans of devices which are simple in construction and operation, and itwill be apparent that many changes in and modifications of theconstruction herein described may be made without departing from thespirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

I-Iaving fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a car-seat, of aheadrest permanently connected with the seat-frame, and movably mountedthereon, whereby it may be positioned to act as a pillow for the headand be retracted when not in use.

2. The combination with a car-seat provided with an end frame, of ahead-rest permanently connected with said end frame and adapted to belocked in position at any desired angle with said end frame.

3. The combination with a car-seat, provided with end posts of ahead-rest permanently attached to said posts, said head-rest consistingof a suitable rest or pillow pivotallysupported from the tops of saidposts, and adapted to be turned about between them into any desiredposition and fixed therein to afford support for the head.

4. The combination with the end of the frame of a car-seat of ahead-rest pivotally supported therein, and adapted to be turned so as toact as a support for the head,saidhead rest consisting of a pillowedframe, which is mounted between the end posts of the seatirame, which isadapted to be turned u pon its supports, and devices connected with theend posts of the seat-frame, and with the headrest frame for holding`the latter in any desired position.

5. The'combination with the frame of the end of a car-seat of ahead-rest comprising a frame pivoted between the end posts of saidseat-frame, a pillow or cushion attached thereto, means whereby saidpillow or cushion may be inated and means whereby said head-rest may bemaintained in any desired position, substantially as described.

G. The combination with the frame of the end of a car-seat provided withthe usual upright posts, of two upright plates attached thereto, across-plate having vertical extensions thereon, bolts rigidly connectingsaid upright and said cross-plates, trunnions situated between saidplates and said extensions and supported by said bolts, and a revoluble,cushion-supportingfra-me mounted upon said trunnions, substantially asdescribed.

7. The combination with the frame of -the end of a car-seat providedwith the usual upright posts of upright plates secured to the tops ofsaid posts, a cross-plate having vertical extensions on each endthereof, bolts rigidly connecting said plates and said extensionstrunnions supported by said bolts, a revoluble, cushion-supporting framemounted upon said trunnions and means whereby said frame may be lockedin any desired position, substantially as described.

S. The combination with the frame of the end of a car-seat, providedwith the usual upright posts, of upright plates secured to the tops ofsaid posts, a cross-plate mounted between said plates, and provided ateach end with an up wardly-directed iiange or head,said anges or headsbeing bolted to the upright plates on the posts,and a revoluble armmounted between said upright llanges or heads, a head-rest frame mountedbetween the end posts of the seat, on trunnions supported by bolts whichconnect the end plates on the posts with said upright anges or heads ot'the crossplate, and said head-rest frame being adapted to be turned onits supports, and said arm being in operative connection with toothedlocking-disks, adapted to engage with corresponding teeth in saidheadrest frame and to lock it in any desired position with reference tothe car-seat, and said head-rest frame being provided with a pillow orcushion7 which is connected therewith, and said pillow or cushion beingadapted to be inated, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination with the frame of a carseat, of a head-restconsisting of suitable side posts, trunnions or supports connected withsaid posts, a cross-piece in operative connection with said trunnions orsupports and sustaining them in position, a head-rest frame pivotallysupported by said trun nions or supports and adapted to be turned aboutthem, and means for locking said head-rest frame in any desired positionrelative to said trunnions or supports, substantially as shown anddescribed.

10. The combination with the frame of a car-seat, of a head-restconsisting of adjustable side posts, means for locking said posts in oneor more positions, trunnions or supports connected with said posts, across-piece in operative connection with said trunnions or supports andsustaining them in position, a headrest frame pivotally supported bysaid trunnions or supports, and adapted to be turned about them, mea-nsfor locking said head-rest frame in any desired position relative tosaid trunnions orsupports, said headrest frame being provided with asuitable pillow or cushion, and said pillow or cushion being providedwith an auxiliary renewable covering, substantially as shown anddescribed.

ll. The combination with the end of the frame of a car-seat, ot anadjustable headrest supported therein, and a supplemental head-restwhich is also supported within said frame, substantially as shown anddescribed.

l2. The combination with the frame of a car-seat provided with uprightsor posts at the ends thereof, of a headrest adjustably supported betweensaid posts, and a supple- IOO IIO

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mental head-rest which is also adj ustably supported between said posts.

13. The combination with the end of the frame of a oar-seat of main andsupplemental head-rests, said head-rests being both separately andjointly adjustable and adapted to be locked in positions making anyangle with each other and the seat.

14. The combination with the end of the frame of a car-seat, of ahead-rest consisting of movable side posts, movable supportingpiecesconnected therewith, movable headrest frames attached to saidsupportingpieces, pillows detachably connected with said head-restframes, and means for locking any and all of the parts in position,independently or coincidently, substantially as shown and described.

l5. The combination with a car-seat of a head-rest fitted betweensuitable side posts or uprights, and extending downwardly whereby itsubstantially forms when out of use, the arm-rest and seat-siding; saidhead-rest being adapted to lock in this position and to be movedtherefrom and lock in any other position at a suitable angle with theseat-cushion for the purpose specified.

16. The combination with a car-seat of main and supplemental head-rests,fitted between suitable side posts or uprights, and extendingdownwardly, whereby they form when out of use, the armrest and seat-siding said with each other and at a suitable angle with j theseat-cushion for the purpose specified.

17. The combination with the frame of a car-seat, of a head-rest fittedwithin said frame between the uprights or posts thereof, and extendingfrom the arm rests downwardly, whereby it is substantially inclosedwithin the said frame when ont of use; said head-rest being adapted tobe moved from such position and caused to extend inwardly from thesaidframe in the direction of the seat-cushion for the purposes specified.

18. The combination with the frame of a car-seat, of a head-restpivotally connected with the uprights of said frame, said headrest beingadapted to be turned or adjusted into any desired position or angle withreference to said uprights, and being also adapted to be locked in thedesired position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 20th day ofFebruary, 1897.

JOSEPH BAERMAN STRAUSS.

Witnesses:

E. B. TUTEUR, H. H. BROWN.

